Canadian International School
🇸🇬 Singapore · Founded 1989 · IB · Ages 2–18
A full IB-continuum school distinguished by structured Chinese-English and French-English bilingual immersion, now consolidated on one large Lakeside campus — for-profit owned, with no public results.
Curricula
IB
Age range
2–18
Languages of instruction
English, Chinese, French
Annual fees
SGD 30,280–53,500
Enrollment
3,100
Boarding
No (day school)
IB authorised
PYP, MYP, DP
Accreditations
IB, Cognia, WASC, EduTrust
Tier Profile
We only tier dimensions backed by a public inspection verdict or verifiable accreditation. Other dimensions show a data flag — never a guessed score.
BrightKey's Assessment
Canadian International School (CIS) is a private, for-profit international school in Singapore, established in 1989 (opening November 1990 as Canadian Overseas College and renamed CIS in 1992). It serves students from Nursery to Grade 12, spanning ages 2 to 18, and reports roughly 3,100 students from more than 80 nationalities.
CIS is a full IB continuum school, authorised for the PYP, MYP and DP. Its roots are Canadian — originally accredited under the Ontario Ministry of Education — but its current academic offering is fully IB. It is accredited by Cognia and WASC and registered under Singapore's EduTrust scheme.
A distinctive feature is its bilingual immersion: a Chinese-English programme (Nursery to Grade 6 with continuation into Grades 7–12) and a French-English programme (Senior Kindergarten to Grade 6), with students immersed in both languages roughly 50% of the time. Additional language options include Chinese, French and Spanish.
IMPORTANT: CIS historically operated two campuses (Lakeside and Tanjong Katong), but the Tanjong Katong campus closed in June 2023 and students consolidated to Lakeside (7 Jurong West Street 41) in August 2023. CIS now operates as a single-campus school. It was acquired by China Maple Leaf Educational Systems in June 2020.
Why These Ratings?
Inspection & AccreditationA — Excellent
Full IB continuum (PYP/MYP/DP) plus Cognia and WASC accreditation and Singapore EduTrust registration. No public inspectorate verdict exists, so the tier reflects accreditation depth only.
Strengths & Trade-offs
Strengths
- Full IB continuum (PYP + MYP + DP) under one roof
- Genuinely distinctive bilingual IB immersion: Chinese-English and French-English with ~50% target-language immersion
- Strong accreditation stack: IB authorization plus Cognia and WASC, plus EduTrust/CPE registration
- Large, well-resourced single campus (~43,000 sq m) with a 500-seat theatre, Olympic-sized pool and a 2,600 sqm Outdoor Discovery Centre
- Highly international community — 80+ nationalities reported
- Long track record — operating since 1990
Trade-offs
- Premium fees — SGD ~30,280–53,500 per year (2026/27), upper tier of the Singapore market
- For-profit ownership — owned by China Maple Leaf Educational Systems since 2020
- Very large enrollment (~3,100) may feel less personal than smaller boutique schools
- No published IB results — the school markets 'exceptional' outcomes but publishes no numeric average or pass rate
- No boarding — day-school only
Is It Right For You?
Best For
- ✓Families seeking a complete IB pathway (PYP→MYP→DP) under one school
- ✓Families specifically wanting structured Chinese-English or French-English bilingual immersion from early years
- ✓Globally mobile expatriate families valuing a large, multinational community (80+ nationalities)
- ✓Families who prioritise extensive campus facilities (aquatics, performing arts, outdoor learning)
Not Ideal For
- ✕Budget-conscious families — fees are in the premium band
- ✕Families seeking British (Cambridge/IGCSE/A-Level) or American (AP) curricula — CIS is IB-only
- ✕Families wanting boarding
- ✕Families wanting a small, intimate school environment
Curriculum
Full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP). No Cambridge or AP pathway. Chinese-English and French-English bilingual immersion tracks at primary level.
Fees
Indicative annual tuition is SGD ~30,280–53,500 for 2026/27 per international-schools-database.com. This excludes likely application, registration, deposit and other ancillary fees. Verify the current fee schedule directly with the school.
Admissions
EAL provision is not publicly confirmed — verify directly. PEI Reg. No. 199002243H (valid 8 June 2023–7 June 2027). For-profit (China Maple Leaf).
Campus Life
A single ~43,000 sq m Lakeside campus (7 Jurong West Street 41) with a 500-seat theatre, Olympic-sized pool and a 2,600 sqm Outdoor Discovery Centre, following the June 2023 closure of the Tanjong Katong campus.
University Placement
School-reported · not independently verified
School-reported, unverified: CIS states graduates 'did exceptionally well in May 2025' but publishes no numeric IB average, pass rate, or named university-acceptance list.
Sources
Every verifiable fact carries a public source — verify it yourself.
- CIS official website · 2026-06
- International Schools Database — Singapore · 2026-06
- Wikipedia — Canadian International School (Singapore) · 2026-06
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